Beggars At The Feast Lyrics

Thenardier
     Ain't it a laugh?
     Ain't it a treat?
     Hob-nobbin' here
     Among the elite?
     Here comes a prince
     There goes a Jew.
     This one's a queer
     But what can you do?
     Paris at my feet
     Paris in the dust
     And here I'm breaking bread
     With the upper crust!
     Beggar at the feast!
     Master of the dance!
     Life is easy pickings
     If you grab your chance.
     Everywhere you go
     Law-abiding folk
     Doing what is decent
     But they're mostly broke!
     Singing to the Lord on Sundays
     Praying for the gifts He'll send.

M. and Mme. Thenardier
     But we're the ones who take it
     We're the ones who make it in the end!
     Watch the buggers dance
     Watch 'em till they drop
     Keep your wits about you
     And you stand on top!
     Masters of the land
     Always get our share
     Clear away the barricades
     And we're still there!
     We know where the wind is blowing
     Money is the stuff we smell
     And when we're rich as Croesus
     Jesus! Won't we see you all in hell!

     [Valjean is alone in the shadows, with a bare wooden
     cross for company.]

Valjean
     Alone I wait in the shadows
     I count the hours till I can sleep
     I dreamed a dream Cosette stood by
     It made her weep to know I die.
     Alone at the end of the day
     Upon this wedding night I pray
     Take these children, my Lord, to thy embrace
     And show them grace.

     God on high
     Hear my prayer
     Take me now
     To thy care
     Where You are
     Let me be
     Take me now
     Take me there
     Bring me home
     Bring me home.

     [Fantine's spirit appears to Valjean.]

Fantine                                 Valjean (interjecting)
     M'sieur, I bless your name              I am ready, Fantine
     M'sieur, lay down your burden           At the end of my days
     You raised my child in love             She's the best of my life.
     And you will be with god.

     [Marius and Cosette rush into the room, but they do not
     see Fantine.]

Cosette
     Papa, papa, I do not understand!
     Are you alright?  They said you'd gone away.

Valjean
     Cosette, my child, am I forgiven now?
     Thank God, thank God, I've lived to see this day.

Marius
     It's you who must forgive a thoughtless fool
     It's you who must forgive a thankless man
     It's thanks to you that I am living
     And again I lay down my life at your feet.

     Cosette, your father is a saint.
     When they wounded me
     He took me from the barricade
     Carried like a babe
     And brought me home to you!

Valjean (to Cosette)
     Now you are here
     Again beside me
     Now I can die in peace
     For now my life is blessed

Cosette
     You will live, Papa, you're going to live
     It's too soon, too soon to say goodbye.

Valjean
     Yes, Cosette, forbid me now to die
     I'll obey
     I will try
     On this page
     I write my last confession
     Read it well
     When I at last am sleeping.
     It's a story
     Of those who always loved you
     Your mother gave her life for you
     Then gave you to my keeping.
     [The other spirits appear.]

Fantine
     Come with me
     Where chains will never bind you
     All your grief
     At last, at last behind you.
     Lord in Heaven
     Look down on him in mercy.

Valjean
     Forgive me all my trespasses
     And take me to your glory.

Valjean, Fantine, and Eponine
     Take my hand
     And lead me to salvation
     Take my love
     For love is everlasting.
     And remember
     The truth that once was spoken
     To love another person
     Is to see the face of God!